JONES SPEAKS OUT AGAINST UNCONSTITUTIONAL MILITARY ACTION IN SYRIA

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) spoke out against unconstitutional military action in Syria at a press conference highlighting the importance of H.R. 2494, legislation to restrict funding for U.S. involvement in Syria without congressional authorization.  The bill is a companion to S. 1201, which was introduced in the Senate last week.  Also speaking at the press conference were Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and Reps. Chris Gibson (NY-19), Peter Welch (VT-AL), and Rick Nolan (MN-8).

“We cannot continue to spend American money and risk American lives overseas without a vote of approval from Congress,” said Jones.  “For too long, the legislature’s responsibility to authorize military force has been overlooked.  It is time that we uphold the Constitution, which makes it clear in Article 1, Section 8 that Congress alone holds the power to declare war.”

Congressman Jones is also an original cosponsor of H.R. 2507, which Congressman Thomas Massie (KY-4) introduced on Wednesday to require a formal declaration of war before funding any U.S. involvement in Syria. Separately, Congressman Jones last week introduced H. Con. Res. 40, which prohibits the president from using war power against Syria without congressional authorization and emphasizes that declaring and appropriating funds for war is a power of the legislative – not executive – branch.  Should the president choose to implement military force without congressional approval, the resolution states that his decision would constitute an impeachable offense under Article 2, Section 4 of the Constitution.